Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-12-16
ALLAN QUARTERNAIp.
OR
A BROWNING CITY


he knew his foe With a shake and yell
of fury, the Zulu gathered himself together
and sprang straight at Nasta'S throat as |
have sometimes seen a wounded lion
spring. He struck him full rs his foot was
on the topmost stair, and his long arms
closing round him like bands, down they
rolled together stru sgifng furously. Nasta
was strong man and desperate, but he
could not match the strongest man in Zu-
luland sore wounded though he was,
whose strength was as the strength OF
bull. In minute the end came. | saw
old Umsiopogaas sta2ger TO his feet-ay,
anA saw him by n single gigantic effort
swing up the struggling Nasta and with a
shout OF triumph hurl him straight over
the parapet of the bridge, to be crushed to
powder on the rocks two hundred feet be-
low
The succor who had been summoned by
the girl who had passed down the stair be-
fore the assassins passed up was at hand,
and the loud shouts which reached us from
the outer gates told us that the town was
also aroused, and the men awakened by
the women were calling to be admitted.
Some of kyleptha's brave ladies, who in
their nfght-shlfts and with their long hair
streaming down their backs, Just as they
had been aroused from rest. had worked
CALAMITY at blocking the passage through
the wall went off to admit them at the
side entrance, whilst others, assisted by
the rescuing party outside. pushed and
pulled down the marble blocks they had
placed there with SO much labor.
Soon the wall was down again, and
through the doorway, followed by a crowd
of rcscuers, staggered old Umslopogaas,
an awful and, in Il way, Il glorious figure.
The man was n mass of wounds, and n
glance at his wild eye told me that he was
dying. The "keshla" gum-ring upon his
head was severed in two places by sword
cuts, one just over the curious hole in his
skull and the blood poured down his face
from the gashes. Also on the right side OF
his neck was a stab from spear, inflicted
by Agon: there was "a deep cut on his left
arm just below where the mail shirt sleeve
stopped, and on the right side Of his body
the armor was severed by a cash six inches
long, where Nasta's mighty sword had bit
ten through it and deep into its weaTer's
vitals.
ON, nxe In hand, he staggered that
notwithstanding splendid savage, and the
ladies forgot to turn faint at the scene OF
blood. and cheercd him, as well they
might but he never stayed or heeCSd
With Outstretched arms md lettering gait
he pursued his way. followed by us all
along the broad shell strewn walk that ran
through the courtyard, past the spot where
the blocks of marble lay, through the
round archcd doorway and the thick cur
tains that hung within it, down tho short
passage md into the great hall, which was
now filling with hastily armed men, who
poured through the side entrance. Straight
mp tho hall he went, leaving behind him
till ut last he reached the sacred stone,
which stood in the center OF it. and hero
his strength seemed To fail him, for he
stopped and leaned upon his aN. Then
suddenly he lifted up his voice AID cried
aloud:
II die, die but it was kingly fray.
Where nre they who came up the great
starr | see them not Art thou there,
MacumaZahn, or art Nou gone before to
whit for me in tho DARK whittier go? The
bland blinHl Inp-tHp nIuCp
hear the voice of waters"
Next, rs though u new thought had
struck him, he lifted the red aX and kissed
the blade.
Farewell, Inkosiknasi, +" he cried. NAY,
may, wc viii 60 together we cannot part,
thou and |. We have lived too long one
vita mother, thou and !.
zone more stroke, only oncl 4 good
strokr a straight strolSe a strong stroker'
and drawing himself To his full height,
with wild, Notwithstanding shout, he with
both hands began To whirl the AK round
his hcnd till it looked like circle of fam
ing steel Then, suddenly, with awful
force, hr brought 1t down straight onto the
crown Of Che mass of sacred stone. A
shower If sparks flew up, and such was
the almost Eupcrhuman strength of the.
blow, that the mass of marble split with Il
rendinE sound into ii score of pieces, whilst
OF lnkOskaasi there remained but some
fragments of steel and fibrOuS ropo OF
shattered horn that had been tho handle
Down with u crash onto the pavement fell
the fragments OF the holy stone, and down
with crash onto them, still graspinR the
knob Of IuKOSikaaSi, fell the brave old Zulu
--dCdH Aud thus the hero dird.
y g'r p of wonder and astouishmeDt rose
from all those who witnessed the extra
ordinary &lSIt, and then somcbs iy cried,
"IHs prUphcrT The pr0Dh1cH lie has
uhutt"ral the sacred stonen' and at once Il
murmh1uL arose,
"Ay," said Nyleptha, with that qrick
wit which distinguishes her. "Ay. my
people, he has shattered the stone, and be-
hold the prophecy Is fulfilled, for n strang-
or king rncs In Zn-Veudis. Encubu, my
lord, hath beat Sorais back, and fear her
no more, and 10 him who hath saved the
crown it shall surely be. And this man."
she said, turning TO me and laying her
hand upon my shoulder "wut We that,
though wounded in the tipht of yesterday,
lac rode, with that old warrior who lies
there, one hundred miles 'twiNt sunset and
rise to save ma from the plots of cruel
men. Ay, and he has saved me, 10y a very
little and, therefore, because Of the deeds
that they have done-dCcds OF glory such
As orr history cannot show the likc-there-
fore ] say that tho name of Macumaznhn
and the name Of dead Umslopogaas, ay,
and the name Of Kara, nay servant, who
aided him 10 hu!d the stair. shall I've blaZ.
oned in letters ot gold above my throne,
and shall lie glorious forever while the land
endurps. ]. the Queen, have said it,"
This spirited speech was met with loud
cheering, aud said that after all we had
only done our duty, as 1t is the fashion OF
both Eugli-hmen and Xulus to do and
there was nothing to make an cutlery about;
at which they chcered still more and then
was supported across the outer courtyard
10 my old quarters, in order that | might
hC put to bed. As went my eyes lit upon
the brave horse Daylight that lay there.
his white head outstrctched on the pave.
ment, exactly as he had fallen on entering
tho yard; and bade those who supported
mo take mo near him, that | might look
on tho good beast once more before he was
dragged away And as | looked, to my
establishment he opened his eyes and, lift
ing his head n little, whinuied family. |
could have shouted for joy to find that he
was not dead, only unfortunately | had
not n shout left in me; but as IL was,
gruOms were sens for and he was lifted up
and vino pOCced down his throat, and in a
fortnight he was rs well and strong rs
over, and Is the pride and joy OF all tho
people OF Mtlosis, who, wheuever they see
him, point him out 10 the little children
as the horse which saved the White
Queens life"
Then went on and got OF To bed, and
was washed and had my mail shirt re-
moved They hurt me n good deal In get
ting IL off, and no wonder, for on my left
breast and side was u black bruise the size
OF u saucer.
The next thing that remember was the
tramp Of horsemen outside the palace wall
some ten hours later. | raised myself and
asked what was tho news and thoy told
mo that large body of cavalry sent by
Curtis TO assist the Queen had arrived
from the scene OF tho battle which they
had left two hours after shutdown. When
they left, the wreck of SoraiS' army was in
full retreat upon M'Arstuna, followed by
all our effective cavalry. Sir Henry was
snCampiug the remains az his worn-out
forces ON tho site (such is the fortune OF
war; that Sorais had occupied the night
before, and proposed marching on to
NJ NrStuua on the morrow. Having heard
this felt that / could die with "a light
heart, and then everything became a blank.
When next awoke the first thing saw
was the round disc OF a sympathetic eye
glass behind which was Good
How are You getting on old chap" said
voice from the neighborhood of the eye
glass
What are you doing heres" | asked
family "lou ought to be nj MArstuua-
have you run away. or whatfN
M ArStuua" he replied, cheerfullv.
"Ah, MArstuna fell last weell--you've
been unconscious for n fortnight, You see
with all tho honurs of WIN, YOU know,
trumpcts blowing, flags flying. Just rs
though they had the best of il, but for all
that, weren't they glad 10 go Israel made
for his tents, can tell you-never saw such
sight in my life"
And Sorais$" | asked.
"Sorais-oh, Sorais is prisoner; they
gave her up, the scoundrels,' he added,